Thomas Nast was an American caricaturist and editorial cartoonist in the 19th century. He is credited with creating the modern version of Santa Claus, as well as popularizing the Republican Party's elephant symbol and the Democratic Party's donkey symbol. He was also known for his cartoons attacking the corrupt Tammany Hall political machine. Nast was a prolific artist who worked for Harper's Weekly from 1859 to 1886.